The Bennett Middle School letter of intent is downed by a 4 to 3 vote.
Votes As Follows:
Gail Bartkovich-No
Matt Holloway- Yes
Sharee Sample Hughes - Yes
John Hall- Yes
Stevie Prettyman- No
Bob Culver - No
Joe Holloway- No
More To Come......
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49 comments:
Now its time to vote out Hall,Matt,and Sharee
Ok, now.....let's all CALM down.
We know we need to make the improvements in our schools
and we will.
Now we need to talk to the state, make the proper extension arrangements, look at the budget, comply with legal, and THEN and ONLY then, build what we can afford
for the good of ALL of this counties children
and the elderly
and our first responders
and the county employers.
Thank you Gail, Stevie, Bob and John. Having no idea what Rickie's budget will be in a few months I think you did the right thing. I watched the whole meeting. Right now is not the time. John, I liked what you said at the end before you voted. I remember when it was said that you wanted a pole barn built. Some people only want the best. Thanks again.
The taxpayers have spoken through their elected representitives, Kudos to the conservatives and realists.
The BMS has just be condemed. Thanks for nothing. SHort sighted inbred Shorebilly morons comes to mind.
Bartkovich and Prettyman both wanted to pass it but couldn't due to the missing part of the deal. This conversation should have happened many weeks or months ago. Again, at the 11th hour and big deals like Bennett shouldn't be approved on emotions but rather by all the pieces of the puzzle in place.
Yippee! The death spiral of Wicomico county continues. Way to go, County Council! We can continue down the path of failure and poor education--maybe we can reach Somerset's level. There's a real goal to shoot for.
Thank you Gail, Stevie, BOB, Joe for the correct vote.
Thank you for voting not to spend money we dont have.
The naysayers must have money to burn or daddys money. They sure are not poor taxpayers.
Yep I am a shorebilly..so what. We dont spend other peoples money. We know what its like to live on what we have.
It doesn't matter. The County Council letetr is not a requirement. The County Executive already sent his letter. Done deal. This project is going to happen. Alot sooner than you think.
Unbelievable. What a bunch of deadbeats. I suggest that if they're that worried about money they should donate their salary back to the people.
Sanity prevails for once; Thank you Gail, Stevie, Bob, & Joe!
Thanks to the yeas'...Shocked by some of the nays'.
I am a very active Republican, fiscally somewhat moderate, but also a retired teacher (Yes, there are Republican teachers!). The four who voted "no" have done a great disservice to the students of Wicomico County through their near-sightedness. While many of you applaud the decision, others such as 2:38 can see it for what it is: "the death spiral of Wicomico County." How many of those who are for the "nay" vote have taken a tour of BMS? That school must be replaced. The money is there! I'm sorry for those in the "feeder" schools for BMS; you will be attending the "as is" BMS.
Retired Republican school teacher??? Maybe a RINO.
IF there is money update the school, do maintenance. I would love a new home too but I repaired mine and it is just good as new. A NEW building does not guarentee the students will get a better education. Students can get an educatiion in a block building with no heat/air if that is the purpose of going to school. Look at what the students have in Iraq and other countries..and they are glad to have what they have.
The apostrophe abuse along this entire thread is horrendous!
Someone said it in an earlier post. Those in Government want to sack it to the taxpayers to build their trophy projects.
I used to live in Dauphin county PA near Harrisburg. in 1998 the school board decided to build a new school and close several smaller district schools. The taxpayers were outraged and fought it tooth and nail. The school district administrator basically said you can get rid of me but the school is a done deal (sound familiar). Now there is a Taj Mahal of a school and the taxpayers are being bled dry. Oh and by the way Harrisburg just filed for bankrupcy...go figure.
These morons in government don't seem to have any problem spending other peoples money, but now the time has come where the people are saying no more!
FIND A LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE !
where is all this money that 3:02 claims is available. I'm guessing the employees that have been furloughed would love to know that as well. Property values continue to drop therefore income to the county will drop. Some of this will have to be made up from a property tax increase- which is really tough for people to handle. Not everybody has that teacher's pension plus social security. I hate it that the school is in bad shape, but, I appreciate money not being spent that just is not there.
Its time to seriously consider reducing 12 grades to 11 grades,
making it mandatory to spend a
year of community service or joining the military. This would help eliminate the need for additional schools. If kids are failing at a certain age they should be made to leave school.
This would eliminate overcrowding and reduce the size of a class. Its time to get serious!
Those who wanted it to go forward:
Blame your boy Ricky for not leveling with the Council about the County's fiscal position -- it's much worse than he suggested in his "State of the County" spiel.
The Council was being asked to buy a pig in a poke, and it would mean the end of the Tax Cap in a couple years.
As it seems 4 council members feel Wicomico dont have the money and going into a huge debt like this is not the right time.I thank them for their wise vote.
So now the kids have to continue to go to school in a condemned building? With inadequate heat. How ignorant.
I don't believe for one minute that the people want to deprive our kids of a safe, clean, modern school to enhance their learning experience. I also know that the nay voters feel the same way. But...at what cost? There are numerous schools and other capitol improvements that need attention therefore we can't blow the entire budget on one project. BHS could have been built for less with a more conservative plan but thats water under the bridge. We as a county have to be smarter and more resourseful if we want to survive the next few years during this economic slow down. Times have changed and so must we.
3:02 - have you visisted alot of other schools besides BMS - there are other schools in this county that are hurting just as bad if not worse then BMS that have to attend their "as is" school on a daily basis.
Did you see the tax assessor speak at the start of the meeting -- the County's revenues will be dropping because of lower property values, and the County can't afford to raise taxes any more except to pay its normal expenses.
Kudos to the Council majority!
The people for the school sound like the tax and spend liberals we have everywhere now.They do everything possible to hold back businesses but want to tax the average person.
Looks like there are 2 RINO's on this Council!
There would be alot more support from the west side for the new BMS if it was built with the minimal ammenities that currently exist at Mardela Middle and High School. But suggesting that would initiate such an out cry from the BMS supporters suggesting that their kids couldn't possibly learn in that type of environment. They do at Mardela. They will at BMS. End of discussion.
By the way 2:53, where will the $42,000,000 come from without the county council supporting it?
how close minded.
TO POSTER WHOM SAID THIS:
"Unbelievable. What a bunch of deadbeats. I suggest that if they're that worried about money they should donate their salary back to the people."
How about if you want the school so bad, you give more on your next tax return than you are now to help cover it... Oh but I guess that's not part of your bashing is it?
And you think this is bad, just wait until Rick Pollit gets his hands on the suggestions made for the civic center... They proposed for it to be remodeled not re-built but watch what happens here... Same thing will happen when rick pollit gave 2 million for 2 acres of land for parking when the whole damn old mall area was asking for less than 1 million...
As the one poster said, they maybe a hillbilly or a redneck or what ever but at least his hands are not in my pocket taking my money and using/overspending it on needless crap...
Oh by the way do you all even know why they are worried about the schools anyway? Oh of course you don't... Well let me tell you, it is so Martin o'faily can get more funding for Maryland because, the govt gives money or the most money to the states with the best schools, and I guess new schools = good schools when it should be smart and passing = good schools... In short, he will get the money for Maryland and spend it in shitsville oh I mean b-more and then rave how he helped Maryland, by taking tax money from a needed city like Salisbury, and give it to a drug invested, complete idiot level city who is corrupt and even steals from level 5 kids...
I think they made the right decision. I am all for new schools that we can afford. If we can't pay for it then we shouldn't build it. Children don't need fancy schools to get a good education. Anyone that beleives that is a fool. Children need good teachers and mentors and better home enviroments. A new school won't fix those problems. My father got a better education in a one room school house on an army base 50 years ago then these children get now. People today need to stop spending money they don't have. Thats whats wrong with America.
Anon 3:49 Thats thinking outside the box. As far-fetched as that may seem your suggestions shouldn't be taken lightly.
Why does it take 12 years to educate our children?
Anyone who thinks that building a new school in this economy is insane.
The Department of Assessments & Taxation have so many - NOT AT ARM LENGTH SALES - into the current data base that I expect someone to file a federal lawsuit to claim their is racketeering in the State of Maryland. They are cherry picking real estate valuations and at the same time properties are being sold a fraction of what they were previously appraised for.
And Wicomico officials want to move forward with a new school? What ever happened to sanity?
Have the 3 council members lost their marbles? Surely - there must be someone within our government that has a rationale mind.
To County Council members Joe Holloway, Gail Bartkovich, Stevie Prettyman, Bob Culver - THANK YOU!
I have to say I'm quite surprised at Matt Holloway's YES vote. It did not surprise me for John Hall as I believe his wife is a teacher. But I'm amazed that Matt would vote to put this County that much in hock.
Perhaps county council members are looking at the JMB project with the $175,000 in weight room equipment and the $200,000 in tennis court lights that could be used to light Fed X Field. Do this school system's planners give any thought to how extravagant expenditures like those are?
Three schools "lost" Title 1 funding this year so more Title 1 money could be spent on Prince Street. Even if their scores improve, how realistic is it to take deserved funding away from Northwestern, Pemberton and Pinehurst to heap unbelievable resources on one school?
So who called who last night to find out how everyone was voting? You know, like JC used to do.
This area has no good jobs to go to but want to spend a couple of hundred million on schools.It seems like priorities for some are backwards.Take that money and build large industrial zones and promote large business seems like a better use of money.
The money will be spent here or on the western shore we pay our fair share and need a new school.
Does anyone have the documents/proof where Rick said the $.07 increase was necessary to fund BMS? We all heard it so can he be impeached?
I wonder if it was'nt for Joe reporting on this and letting people know if it might have passed
4:50 Agreed. The teachers, parents and students at Northwestern made this school a National Blue Ribbon School,and the media made more of a fuss about Michael Oher coming to Prince. So now Northwestern will do more with less like they always have at the sake of other schools.
8:05 - It is kind of like welfare. In this country, those of us who work hard and succeed are not rewarded.
I am really surprised that John Hall would vote YES for this project. I do not believe his wife is a teacher so that should not have anything to do with it. He is a business owner and should know how horrible the economy is here in Wicomico County with all the empty office spaces/buildings galore. Hmm.....what goes?
11:45pm He probably knew it wasn't going to pass so I bet he just decided to play to the "GOOD OLD BOYS."
Thanks to the nays! We don't have the money...period. We don't know what the budget is going to be....
Thanks to the nays - not surprised at the yeas!
That could be very possible 701AM. Really did not think of it that way but it sure makes sense. After all, this is GOOD OLE BOY country down here on the Eastern Shore and running a business and being in that "network" is important I guess. As for the other two who voted YES - oh well, that was expected.
re:The money will be spent here or on the western shore we pay our fair share and need a new school.
January 17, 2012 5:02 PM
yep, initially state funds may go to the western shore...right along with the debt (that we can not afford)
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